
82 HOW TO MAKE A BIRDSKIN. 
est scratch becomes a festering sore. Once poisoned in this 
manner (and I speak from experience), one is never afterward 
able to skin any animal that has become in the least putrid, 
without experiencing some of the symptoms above described. 
Even birds that you handled before with impunity, you cannot 
now skin without great care. The best remedy in this case is, 
as the Hibernian would say, not to get poisoned, . . bathe the 
parts frequently in cold water ; and, if chafed, sprinkle the parts 
after bathing, with wheat flour. These remedies, if persisted in, 
will effect a cure, if not too bad; then, medical advice should 
be procured without delay.”* fe 
§45. How ro mounT BirpDs. As some may not improbably 
procure this volume with a reasonable expectation of being 
taught to mount birds, I append the required instructions, 
although the work only professes to treat of the preparation 
of skins for the cabinet. Asa rule, the purposes of science 
are best subserved by not mounting specimens; for display, 
the only end attained, is not required. I would strongly advise 
you not to mount your rarer or otherwise particularly, valuable 
specimens ; select for this purpose nice, pretty birds of no 
special scientific value. The principal objections to mounted 
birds are, that they take up altogether too much room, require 
special arrangements for keeping and transportation, and can- 
not be handled for study with impunity. Some might suppose 
that a mounted bird would give a better idea of its figure and 
general aspect than a skin; but this is only true to a limited 
extent. Faultless mounting is an art really difficult, acquired 
by few; the average work done in this line shows something 
of caricature, ludicrous or repulsive, as the case may be. To: 
copy nature faithfully by taxidermy requires not only long 
and close study, but an artistic sense; and this last is a rare 

* Avoid all mechanical irritation of the inflamed parts; touch the parts that 
have ulcerated with a stick of lunar caustic; take a dose of salts; use syrup of 
the iodide of iron, or tincture of the chloride of iron, say thirty drops of either, in 
a wineglass of water, thrice daily; rest at first, exercise gradually as you can bear 
it; and skin no birds till you have completely recovered. 

